Black Friday Bundle One Review

Oh boy, oh boy, it's that wonderful time of year when the Scrapping Cottage releases their Black Friday Specials.  This year is a real treat with not just one, but two new bundles offered at a deep discount.  For a limited time you can purchase these products at 60% off.  

Today, I am over on the CottageCutz YouTube Channel with a review of Bundle One and I am sharing three cards that I created with several dies from this bundle.  If you are wondering what sizes the dies are and how they fit on an A2 card, I have you covered.  I'm also giving away one of these dies, so I hope you'll join me.

The card shown above features the "Garden Birds".  Not just for spring, this blue bird can be used to add a little joy to someone's dreary winter's day.  You can check out my other two cards here

Until next time.... Marla

One Last Hoorah

Happy Wednesday!  As a card maker, I struggle with the emergence of fall.  I want to create many cards using all of the beautiful fall products.  Then suddenly I realize, I need to get all of my Christmas cards completed and have a limited amount of time.  When I sat down to create my video today, I set aside all things Christmas to give fall one last hoorah. 

The "Fall Centerpiece" is a gorgeous die that demands center stage on a card.  My vision was to create another clean and simple design, with texture.  Keeping the background white allowed the elegance of the die cut image to shine.

If you head over to watch the video, you will see how this card came together and can enter to win this beauty.  I hope to see you there.

Until next time..... Marla

Christmas Carolers

Hello, my crafty friends, it's Marla here today with a new CottageCutz You Tube video.   I am sharing something a little different today.  I am reviewing several dies from the Christmas 2023 release.  I thought it might be helpful to see the sizing of some of the dies and how they would appear on both an A2 and 5x7 cards.  Some of the new dies are larger than others, such as the beautiful "Carolers" in the card above.  I also will be sharing a few card layout ideas and finally, I will assemble four different cards. I hope you will join me.

I will link all of the new products I used on my card below, for easy shopping.

Until next time.... Marla

Keeping Your Design Simple

Hi, Marla here today with another CottageCutz YouTube video tutorial.  Fall is finally here, and the new CottageCutz Fall Release is in the shop.  I have already posted a few cards on my Instagram using many of these beautiful products.  I am completely smitten with all of the products in this release.  Do you love it as much as I do?  

My card today is a 5x7 design, with a simple layout.  What makes it simple?  Well, for me it means leaving white space on my card that allows the dies or stamps to take center stage without any distractions.  

You can head on over to watch the video and see how you can enter to win one of these beautiful dies.  I hope to see your there.  Until next time...... Marla

CottageCutz Christmas 2023 Release

I am so excited to share this card that I created using the new CottageCutz Christmas release. I have been anxiously awaiting this release that is a split between vintage and classic CottageCutz cute. I have so many ideas and wasn't sure where I wanted to start, but eventual landed on the "Vintage Holiday Lantern." I paired it up with some pattern paper in my stash to add non-traditional colors with an old-fashioned flair and I think it worked. Let's get started.

I die cut all of the pieces using white cardstock. Next, I colored them using Catherine Pooler inks as follows: Lantern, Cotton Candy with white gouache painted on top. Candle, Butter Cream and Sauna. Holly, Skylight and spattered with Spruce. Small leaf, Spruce. Ribbon (cut twice), Polished and Pebble. Twigs, Mocha. Berries, Polished and Cotton Candy. I added both water splatters and white gouache splatters to some of the pieces. For the bow, I used the white gouache with a paint brush to mute some of the color and add distressed interest.

When I assembled the lantern, I chose not to use the wick for the candle that is available, and I added vellum behind the first lantern layer to mute the patterned paper from behind. I then added one more lantern layer behind the vellum for a little dimension.

To assemble the card, I began with a 4.25" x 5.5" white top folding card base. I used two pieces of patterned paper.  The first piece was cut to 4" x 5.25 and the second was cut to approximately 1.5" x 5.25" and hand torn on the right edge to add a distressed look. I then adhered the pieces to the center of the card panel.

I glued my finished lantern down to the right of center and arranged my foliage around the top ring of the lantern. I added a couple sprigs flowing down on the right side creating a visual triangle. Then, I off set my gray and red bows using a small foam dot in between each piece for dimension. Finally, I added "Crystal" Stickles to the twigs and berries for added sparkle.

That completes this card. I hope my card inspires you to create something new today. The vintage pieces included in this release really warms my heart.  If you missed my review of the new "Old Fashioned Ornaments" you can head over to the CottageCutz YouTube Channel to see a sample of each ornament fully assembled.  

  

Until next time.... Marla

"Old Fashioned Ornament"

I'm super excited to share today's CottageCutz YouTube video with you.  As you know, the highly anticipated CottageCutz Christmas release is here and there are five, yes five amazing retro ornament dies within the release.  I thought it might be nice for you to see the scale of each of the ornaments and then build a few simple Christmas cards using a few of the new dies. I have shared a "teaser" card above. If you would like to see the ornaments assembled and get a better sizing perspective head on over and join me.  I will also be sharing how you can enter to win one of these beautiful dies.

I will link the products I used in my video below for easy shopping.  Until next time... Marla

A Change in Direction

Hello, my crafty friends and happy Wednesday.  I'm here today with another CottageCutz YouTube video.  I don't know about you, but I always like to get more mileage out of my dies.  I enjoy making cards using slimline dies, but I know not everyone is comfortable with this sized card.  Today, I am sharing a die you may have overlooked for this reason.  It's called the "Mountains and Trees Slimline". As you can see by my card, this die is designed to create a beautiful outdoor scene and can be used with A2 sized cards as well.  I call these double bonus dies.

I hope you will head over to our YouTube Channel to see the entire card making process.  If you entered to win the "Leafy Branch 1" die from my last video, I will be announcing the winner, so you don't want to miss out.  

Until next time..... Marla

Halloween Fun

Hello, Marla back with a new CottageCutz YouTube video.  Last year's Halloween release was so much fun.  There were so many fun dies that I didn't get a chance to use and since the release is currently 30% off in the Scrapping Cottage Store, so I thought this would be a great time to share a sweet card using the "Spookie Kitties" and the "Halloween Chair."  I more of a cutsie Halloween girl and these kitties couldn't be more adorable.  
You can find all of the card details in my YouTube video.  Also, if you entered to win the "Folk Art Fox", I will be announcing the winner there. I hope you'll join me.  Don't forget to check out the Halloween sale here.Until next time......Marla

Welcome Fall

Happy Wednesday.  Marla here back with a new CottageCutz YouTube video tutorial.  Today, I'm bringing a little relief today from the dog days of summer with a fall themed card.  I pulled out my muted jewel tones of cardstock to use with the cute "Folk Art Fox" and "Folk Art Trees."  I have been so inspired by this "Folk Art" collection because it can be used for any season.  

You can find more specific card details and see how you can enter for a chance to win the "Folk Art Fox" in my video.  Until next time..... Marla

Christmas in July

Marla here with another CottageCutz YouTube video tutorial.  On my personal YouTube Channel, I am celebrating Christmas in July.  I noticed that several of the dies in the "Folk Art" release translate well for use into the fall and Christmas seasons, so I rolled the theme into my design team post for The Scrapping Cottage.  
I would love for you to join me to watch the video, but in case you can't, I will share the two dies I used on my project today.  I paired the "Folk Art Deer" with an older Christmas die "Christmas Farmhouse Floral".  I used non-traditional Christmas colors, paired with kraft cardstock for a delightful folk art Christmas card.  
Thanks for stopping by.   Until next time.... Marla